Purple Tuesday

Dead wood. Almost a year ago we moved into our new Adams family home. So much has happened. Probably a hundred LinkedIn posts have been written since stepping over the front door threshold. The first time we saw it. Still a building site. But to the left was a striking maple tree full of leaves. New home owners always say there is a wow moment. The catalyst for decision making. We were lucky. We had two. The tree and the kitchen diner space to accommodate seven. Last week the tree was laid to rest. Apparently it had died and would have risked branches falling and therefore become a risk. The tree surgeons were like doctors and nurses. The respect and care they gave in dealing with the putting to sleep operation was amazing. Touching. Aged over 100 years they thought. The equivalent of me having great great grandchildren. Stark reminder of the fragile relationship with our environment and the damage to history that can be caused. Who knows if it was the house building that impacted the roots. Or simply old age. But it has to matter. The kids want to plant a sapling as a sign of respect. Circle of life. The tree people attended with their tractors and machinery. For my youngest son his number one bucket list item has been achieved before his third birthday. What a customer experience he was given. Over my career I have heard the reference to dead wood in relation to staff. Not in any of my current roles I might add. Sometimes the relationship between individuals and organisations come to a natural end. At other times the direction of travel is different. Leadership is about being able to take tough decisions. But always taken with full respect and care. And remembering they are people. An important lesson for us all. Next time you have a people/person issue to resolve. Always think maple tree before taking action. Tree Tuesday. #MapleTree #Trees #Environment #Sapling #Tractor #BucketList #PurpleTuesday #DisabilityConversation31 #BeASue Image Description: a collage of four images. One showing the tree before it was cut down with a bright yellow digger next to it, and another of the tree after its branches had been removed. The third photo is on Mike’s son sitting in the tractor seat looking very happy and the fourth of him sitting on his own toy tractor on the driveway nearby the real one.

Rinse and repeat. Great phrase borrowed from my colleague Tammy Jones. Powerful stories need telling multiple times to truly land. So apologies now if you have heard this from me before. Took my two five year olds to a class friend’s party. Ended up standing around awkwardly as people avoided eye contact. Felt a spare part. Eventually a person comes over and asks if I would like a beer. Material to this tale I said yes. When we sat down I offered to pay. He said it was on his son who had organised the birthday party for his son. He then asked which Grandchild was mine. I pointed to my two daughters. Assumptions. And getting them wrong. Four days later I had a darker tint put in my hair. Assumed people struggled to engage because of my disability. Don’t know what to say so swerve the conversation altogether. The genesis. Or one of them. For Purple Tuesday being born. Reality. I was 20 years older than most in the room so small talk even harder. The Grandad remarked that a percentage of those in the room would be like me in future years. A second time around dad. And statistics will mean it is highly likely some will have acquired a disability. Brilliant to address the staff team at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT). A small fraction are helicopter crew. But people assume otherwise. Without their dedication. Passion. Conviction. And a sense of purpose the service wouldn’t run. Lived experience was everywhere. The other speakers included a couple who told of their horrific accident. Nearly a year ago. How the service saved their lives. A three car collision had left individuals with acquired impairments. It was the moment the dots between the two organisations were well and truly joined. It was an absolute privilege to have been invited to speak. On the hangar wall. Believe. Inspire. Achieve. Values that are clearly lived by everyone. Every day. And the three words that were echoed all day and that are applicable to any organisation. Trust. Care. Communicate. Rinse and repeat those and you won’t go wrong. Uplifting Friday. #Inspired #Helicopter #AirAmbulance #AcquiredDisabilities #AcquiredImpairment #EHAAT #PurpleTuesday #DisabilityConversation31 #BeASue Image Description: A split visual showing two images side by side, both from the recent Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Conference. On the left is a photo of Mike presenting on stage to the staff team. On the right is a photo of Mike standing in front of the Air Ambulance which is bright red. Mike is wearing a high vis jacket.